Assignment Task
Overview
In this assessment, you will identify an initiative to improve organisation’s financial performance by employing frameworks for the presentation of the business case. You will need to develop analysis and recommendations that you would propose to the senior management of an organisation of your choice.
Details
This assessment will require you to develop a business case that will be aimed at the senior management of your chosen organisation. Your business case should address the following points (at a minimum):
1. Reasons for the proposed initiative
2. Expected outcome or improvement
3. Information on resources required for the change
Note: You are encouraged to focus on the same organisation for Assessment 1 and 2. However, you have the option of selecting a different organisation if you wish. This will add considerably to your workload if you wish to do this. Refer to the article Is this really worth the effort? The need for a business case (Siegelaub 2009) for additional information on the structure of a business case.
1. Identify or explore an initiative to improve the performance of your focal organisation. The proposed initiative should link to your chosen organisation’s strategy and its stakeholders’ expectations. The improvement initiative you propose should be significant, as it should have a major impact on the future performance of the unit, division, or the whole organisation. You should aim to complete this step by the end of Week 4.
2. Evaluate the details of the initiative to determine the feasibility of your proposal as it would apply to your chosen organisation. This would include a projection (i.e. forecast) of financial and/or non-financial information and would consider the payback period or value implications.
You can use the financial statements and non-financial information you used in Assessment 1 to build the business case for the proposed initiative.
3. Develop a business case using the information from Steps 1 and 2. The business case needs to include financial implications of your proposed initiative considering the cost or investment required. This analysis should consider the payback period or value implications. There is flexibility in how you approach your analysis and the framework you choose to employ, as it will be based on the business case for performance enhancement.
4. Refine your analysis to support the business case and your recommendation to the senior management. The information you provide should be reasonable enough to increase the chances of adoption of your business case by the organisation. You must ensure that your explanations and analysis demonstrate a solid understanding and application of the topics and resources from Modules 1–6 of the unit. You must also be sure to provide a clear position in your assessment
5. Write your business case report
Your business case should draw on your work in Steps and propose a clear and compelling initiative that will improve the organisation’s financial performance. The report should include analysis, facts and figures evidenced through graphs, charts, etc. and details of the specific recommendation for senior management to consider when evaluating the recommended project’s desirability, feasibility, and viability.